There’s nothing quite like Christmas in the City, New York City that is. Between tinsel strewn trees, major shopping sales and stuffing your face with all the delicious holiday treats you can get your hands on, there’s plenty to keep you busy this holiday season. So, in an effort to save you time, and a major headache trying to figure out what to do to eliminate that major holiday FOMO you’ve got, I’m sharing a full list of all things holiday in NYC!
Trees – Christmas trees just scream holidays and with more green to see than your eyes can handle, here’s a list of my favorite lit pines (in no particular order).
- Rockefeller Center
- Wall Street
- Lotte New York Palace
- The Met Museum
- The Plaza Hotel
- Lincoln Center
- American Museum of Natural History
Ice Skating – Don’t slide through December without getting some blades on your feet and taking a couple of laps around one of the great rinks around town!
- Bryant Park
- Rockefeller Center
- Central Park
- Brookfield Place
- The Standard
Holiday Markets & Shopping – ‘Tis the season for giving, right? So how about you support local and stop by one of the many festive and beautifully decorated holiday markets to buy those people you call “fam” a much deserved present…or maybe it’s obligatory.
- Bryant Park
- Union Square
- Columbus Circle
- Grand Central
- Chelsea Market
- Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar
Pop Ups – Here for a limited time, these pop up shops and activities provide you a little extra fun for the holidays. But don’t wait, they’ll be gone sooner than you can say “Dear Santa”.
- Yankee Candle
- Hallmark Holiday
- Vintage Holiday Train
- Rebecca Gardner’s Sugar Plum Pop Up
- Goop
Feast & Sip – ‘Tis also the season to eat, drink & be merry. And while I’m sure you’re already stuffed and dreading those lovely holiday LB’s, these extra special places make it feel just a little more like Christmas.
- Rolf’s
- Chumley’s
- The Plaza Hotel
- Lillie’s Victorian
- Sip Cocktails in a rooftop winter lodge at Gallow Green
- Mace (Miracle on 9th Street)
- Tavern on the Green
- Boiler Maker
- Dine in a Yurt at The Standard East Village
- Sip drinks in an igloo on a rooftop
Lights & Sights – I know your senses might be overloaded, but you can’t skimp out on the dazzling lights and sights in and around the city. If there’s one activity you have to make time for, it’s definitely one (or more) of these below.
- Light display at Saks Fifth Avenue
- Dyker Heights
- Window display at Bergdorff Goodman
- Window display at Saks
- Window display at Macy’s
- Window display at Bloomingdale’s
- Window display at Lord & Taylor
- Holiday Movies at the Plaza
- It’s a Wonderful Life at IFC
- The Rockette’s Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Train Shows – Chugging through the holidays are the marvelous and fascinated holiday train shows. Paying homage to one of the main modes of transportation that put NYC on the map, these lovely displays of locomotives are fun for the whole family!
- New York Botanical Gardens
- Grand Central (Transit Museum)
- Catskill Mountain Railroad Polar Express
- New York Historical Society
